Switch-lock



S. E. BARLET.

sWIpmH4 Loox.

(No Model.)

Patented July 2, 1895.

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Nrrnn STATES IFFICE SAMUELaE. BARLET, OF RED BANK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN B. MATTHEWS, OF BOUND BROOK, NEVT JERSEY.

SWITCH-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,182, dated Ju1y2, 1895.

Application tiled August 16, 1894.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, SAMUEL E. BARLET, of -Red Bank, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Switch-Lock, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Theinvention relates to interlocking switch systems for railroads, and more particularly to switch-locks such as shown and described ro in the Letters Patent of the UnitedStates No. 55,722, granted to me under date of April 3, 1 l.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved switch lock, which is very simple and durable in construction and arranged to positively prevent the operator in charge of the tower from wrongly setting the switch or the signal. The invention consists in certain parts and zo details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying l drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan View ofv the improvement as applied and with the box cover removed. Fig. 2 is a like view of the improve- 3o ment with the switch-bar unlocked. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the improvement on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. isa similar View of the same with the plunger withdrawn. Fig. 5 is a like view of the same with the switch- 3 5 bar shifted, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of part of the improvement on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

The improved switch-lock is mounted in a suitably-con structed box or casing A, secured 4c: on the ties between the track rails, as illustrated in Fig. l, the said box or casing being formed with a transversely-extending guidelway A, through which passes transversely the switch-bar B, connected with the switchrails C, operating in conjunction with the main track-rails D. The switch-rails C are connect# ed by the usual mechanism O under the control of the operator in charge of the tower, so as to enable the operator to throw the switch seria] No. 520,501. (No modem In the box or casing A is mounted to slide longitudinally a plunger or boltl F., connected at one end byabell-crank lever E witha suitable mechanism E, extending to the tower and under the control of the operator therein, the said mechanism E2 also controlling the signal for the switch.

On the switch-bar B is secured a rod B', ex tending transversely and parallel to the 6o. switch-bar, and passing through the sides of the box or casing A, as plainly illustrated in the drawings. On this rod B', inside of the box A, is formed a cam B2, adapted to engage the free end of the lever F, pivoted at F to the back of the cox A, the said lever being adapted to open and close an aperture A2, `formed in the back of the box A and adapted to register with two apertures B3 and B4,

is provided with an aperture adapted to register with the aperture A2, and the said aperture A2 is in alignment at all timeswith the plunger E, so that when the apertures A2, B3, or B4 and the aperture in the free end F2 of 75 the lever F are in alignment with each other, then the plunger E can pass through the said apertures to lock the switch-bar B, and consequently the switch-rails O in either an open or a closed position, according to which of the 8o apertures B3 or B4 is engaged by the said plunger.

On the free end F2 of the lever F is formed a projection F3, adapted to pass into the path of the plunger E at the time the free S5 end of the lever F has swung into its lowermost position, as indicated in Fig.4. The

, rear end of the lever F is provided with alug F4, beveled at the under side and adapted to be engaged at its upper surface by the bev- 9o eled end G ofa second lever G, mounted to swing horizontally from its pivot G2, arranged in the box A. The beveled end G of the lever G is adapted to 'be engaged by the beveled under side of the lever F4, so as to impart a swinging motion to the said lever at the time the front or free end of the lever F is caused to swing upward by the action of the cam B2, as hereinafter more fully described.

5o to an open or closed position as the case may require.

eled at G3, and extends into the path of the plunger E, so that the said plunger on being formed in the switch-bar B. The free end F2 7o The front end of the lever Gis bev- Ioo moved inward strikes the said beveled edge G2, to impart a swinging motion to the lever G to disengage its rear end from the lug F4 to permit the lever F to swing downward at its free end by its own gravity until the downward swinging motion of the lever is arrested by the under side of the lug F3, resting on top of the entering end of the plunger E. (See Fig. 3.)

When the plunger is withdrawn, then the plunger iinally passes from under the lug F3, so that the lever F is again free to swing further downward at' its free end F2 until the end F5 of the lug F3 rests on the end G3 of the lever G. (See Fig. 4.) A lug G4 on the lever G is adapted to abut against the edge of the end F5, so that the levers F and G interlock each other. A spring I-I presses on the lever G, so as to cause the rear end thereof to swing toward the lever` F andthe front end toward the entering end of the plunger E.

The operation is as follows: It will be understood that the switch lock and signal are operated from the tower and connected with each other by a suitable interlocking mechanism. Now, when the several parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. l, then the plunger E is in itsinnermost position and en gages the apertured end F2 of the lever F,

the back aperture A2, and the aperture B3 in the switch-bar B, so that the latter is securely locked in place and the switch-rails C cannot be shifted, the switch then remaining open for the main track, as shown in said Fig. 1. Now, when it is necessary to shift the switchrails C to open the side track, then the operator in the tower first unlocks the switch by withdrawing the plunger E. He then shifts the switch to the side track and locks it again by returning the plunger E, provided all parts in direct sympathy with such movement have responded, and the interlocking levers F and G have moved as required. This being perfected, the operator is at liberty to display the proper signal governing the said switch. The approaching train or engine is then permitted to proceed in safety. Afterthe said train or engine has cleared Athe switch the operator may reverse the signal or set it to danger. Then he is at liberty to unlock the switch by withdrawing the plunger E. For instance, if the operator wants to operate the switch to permit a train to pass on the side track, he first unlocks the switch-bar B by withdrawing the plunger E, (see Fig. 2,) so that the operator can manipulate the device C to shift the switch-rails C for the side track. Now, as soon as the switch-barB moves transversely the cam B2 moves under the free end 0f the lever F and imparts aswingingmotion to the same in an upward direction, whereby the lug F4 imparts a swinging motion to the rear end of the lever G until the said lug F4 has passed the free end of the lever G and the latter snaps in over the lug F4 by the action of the spring H, thus locking the lever F in an uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 5.

The plunger E can now be returned to engage the aperture B4 in the switch-bar B to lock the latter in place. In movingthe plunger inward the lever G is acted on at its beveled edge G2, so that the lever F is unlocked and the latter swings downward to rest with its lug F2 on the plunger entered. into the aperture B4. Now, when the plunger E is again withdrawn by the operator manipulating the mechanism E2 from the tower, then the plunger on leaving the under side of the projection or lug F2, permits the lever F to swing farther downward to bring the projection F2 in the path of the plunger, thereby preventing the re-entrance of the plunger to the aperture A2 and aperture B4 in the switchbar B, unless the latter is first shifted. Thus it will be seen that until the switch is again shifted the operator cannot unlock the switch by returning the plunger E, owing to the fact that the projection F3, on the lever F, pre- Vents the entrance of the plunger to the apertures A2 and B4. The switch must thus be shifted to its proper position from the side track to the main track, or viceversa, as the case may require, so that the switch-bar B, by the cam B2, acts on the lever F, as previously described.

When the switch is properly locked for either side track or main track, which is indicated by the signal governing the said switch, then the operator can allow as many trains as may be desired to pass under said signal; but should the `operator reverse the signal or Vset it to danger, and then unlock the switch by withdrawing the plunger E, then he cannot display a clear signal and allow other trains to use the same track, as did the previous train, as he cannot return the plunger E, which controls the signal prever F moves in the path of the entering plunger and prevents its passage to the apertures A2, B3, or B4. Consequently the operator must shift the switch after the plunger is withdrawn, as the said plunger cannot be returned until the switch is in the proper position for the side track or for the main track.

It will be seen that by this mechanism the operator or leverman is prevented from locking the switch unless it is in its proper position, from the fact that the lock-lever in the tower, which is connected to mechanism E2 and bell crank E and plunger E cannot be manipulated, as. the plunger E will not register with the aperture in the free end of the lever F. The Voperator or leverman being thus prevented from manipulating the locklever and the mechanisms in sympathy therewith, he cannot display the necessary signal controlling the switch in question, as the lock controls the signal. Hence accidents to movtrains arising from disconnected switches, movable frogs, and derails or other wire out of adjustment are absolutely prevented, as engineers are wholly controlled and move according tothe signals governing the tracks and IOO viously displayed, for the reason that the le- IIC l apertured switch bar, and a plunger adapted .g

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters` l. In a switch lock, the combination with an apertured switch bar, and a plunger adapted to enter the aperture of the switch bar, of a pivoted lever provided at one end with an aperture and adapted to be operated by the switch bar, and a second lever engaging the irst named lever to hold it raised, the said second lever being adapted to be engaged by the plunger to release the first named lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a switch lock, the combination with an to enter the aperture of the switch bar, of a pivoted lever having at one end an aperture to receive the plunger and a projection above the aperture to pass into the path of the plunger, and at its other end with a lug, and a spring pressed lever having one end projecting into the path of the plunger, andits other end adapted to engage the lug of the first named lever, substantially as herein shown and described. Y

3. In a switch lock, the combination with an apertured switch bar provided with a cam, and a plunger adapted to engage the aperture of the switch bar, of a pivoted lever provided at one end with an aperture and a projection, and at its other end with a lug, and a spring pressed lever having its ends beveled and provided with a lug adapted to engage the end'of the projection of the first named lever, the said spring pressed lever being engaged by the lug of the said first named lever and projecting into the path of the plunger, substantially as described.

SAMUEL E. BARLET.

Witnesses: y

N. FORD, H. M. NEVIUS. 

